Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1887-10-12

] y
date of San Jose, Cal, Sept. 9Th, 1887.
BeJOUed Transcript Though I do
not know much about fruit growing in
California as 1 did nine months ago,
when I came here, I have gathered
some information about the business
that may in a measure interest some of
the many fruit-growing readers of the
Transcript.
Usually the Tenderfoot from a fruit
growing state, who reaches California
Saturday afternoon has an irrepressible
desire to go out the following Monday
morning and show the old residents
how to cultivate an orchard and run
the business generally, but after a lit
tie while this missionary spirit wears
off, and the Tenderfoot becomes more
inclined to listen than to chuck out his
advice.
If one will visit the orchards of the
more successful growers, and not be
modest about asking questions, he
may learn how little he knows in a
very short time. Otherwise he may
wander on, believing he knows it all,
till the sheriff gets interested in him.
Take the single item of bugs, for ex-
ample. I mean bugs that worry the
fruit-grOwer till he can't find words in
the dictionary stOng enough to express
his feelings in. Well, began to learn
the names of these bugs last Deem
Der, but haven't got to the end of the
list yet. | think there are probably
enough to hold out until 1888, but the
list of those named is quite long
enough. After a great deal of research
and some experiment have found out
that a solution of concentrated I've
strong enough to kill fruit tree will.
in many cases, if thoroughly applied,
cause the most of these bugs to won
der what has happened Beyond that
point, and one or two Latin names of
bugs, picked up at odd moments, am
yet quite stepped in ignorance on the
great question of California fruit pests.
In thOroughness of cultivation and
care of trees generally, 1 can say
without mental reservation, that the
California Orchardists are far ahead OF
those of any other part of the United
States l have travelled in. The soil is
kept loose and mellow and not a weed
or bit of grass is allowed to grow in
orchards Unsuccessful growers. Weeds
or grass or baked earth is fatal to fruit
trees in California, and so the cultiva-
tor is running all winter long, when
the ground is not too wet, and far into
the dry summer In the rainy season
if weed gets half chance it will
grow as high as a house, and even in
the midst Of the dry season, when rain
has not fallen for two months, some
determined and vigorous brands o
weeds will spring up and 90 to seed al
most before one knows what they ar,
about.
California Orchardists differ widel,
in regard to pruning, but the genera
plan pursued is to keep the tree low
to the ground. In some of the fines
orchards in the valley most of the frui
can be picked from the ground.
In the Santa Clara Valley, of whicl
San Jose is the distributing point
, peaches, plums, prunes, apricots, ap
Piles, pears, cherries, olives, wine an,
table grapes, almonds and walnuts ar
grown. There are also few small
groves on the foot hills, but the sum
mers are not believed to be hot enough
to make thoroughly good orange
The orange enjoys a temperature G
about 115 in the shade for stretch G
two or more weeks, and we don't ful
nish that sort of weather here.
, The planting of apple orchards ha
been discontinued on account of tn
ravages of the cOdling moth whicI
came to this coast three or four year
ago and liked the climate so we'll tina
he stayed. In this mild winter climat
these pests have a soft thing of it, an,
have increased and multiplied to sue
an extent that now almost every appl
has its worm. The apple thrived her
and was profitable until the pest go
into it. After fighting the moth on
or two years many Orchardists pullet
out their apple trees and put in Frencl
prunes. A tree wash of London puT
pie has been tried this season agains
moths and learn with some success.
The opinion prevails among orchar
dists of this valley that the apricot an,
French prunes are the safest fruits tn
grower can put his trust in. TIL
French Drune is an especial favorit
and adds largely to its acreage. It is
sure, steady bearer, comes into prof
, at five years, and has no known enem,
but a scale bug that sucks the life on
of the bark, but which, owing to Wig
, orous methods of determination by or
chardists, is now disappearing. Tn
prune is easily gathered, being shaker
J from the trees on canvas, and tn
method of drying it is so simple tina
every grower can learn it in an hou
: and is therefore at the mercy of neithe
middlemen nor transportation com
panies. l am told that French prun
orchard will average a yield of ten ton
to the acre from the sixth year onward
which would certainly be a handsom
return to the grower for his investment
even at $1,000 or $500 an acre. Frencl
prunes have brought green this yea
$40 to $50 a ton, but, as the crop is be
low the average, the price is higher
But the fruit is so easily handled an,
requires so little labor to cure it, tha
the grower is really in a position +
J name his own price. I think it yer.
safe to say that French prune Orchar,
in the Santa Clara Valley, if plante
in the right kind of soil and properl
! cared for, will give an average retur
Of at least 5000 per acre from the sixt
year on.